Easter Photo Shoot

When I saw that a local photographer who a friend liked was offering mini sessions to do some Easter pictures, I thought this would be a really fun thing to try. Plus it gave us a chance to try out a new photographer. We bundled up on a Saturday afternoon to go to Soby Ranch and work with Megan of MKR Photography. We had fun and the kids had a good time. They weren't quite sure what to do with the hay bales or holding chics, but the pictures turned out good.

Love...

Love more...

Thanks Megan and Joy from the ranch. We might be back as I get these two out of the city and around a few more animals to they're not so spooked next time.

Easter Prep

We spent a lot of the day at home getting ready for Easter. We started the morning with making Easter cookies. They each laid out the cookies how they wanted, but that's not exactly how they ended up being cooked ;)

This afternoon we did our first ever egg dying. They did really well (of course it didn't hurt to have grandma around as an extra set of hands). We used a little trick of putting the eggs in muffin pans to keep the eggs safe and putting the eggs inside whisks to dunk them - soooo easy! (Thanks Pinterest!)

We got crafty this afternoon and made some egg garlands to hang around the house. It's amazing what you can transform paint sample chips into. They're all hanging in the kitchen and look very fun. Now we're a little more festive for this weekend coming up.:)

And Parker managed to check out some of the "basketball guys". He loves to watch and cheers for everyone. About every fifth basket, he wants to give someone a high five. He got good and comfy watching the Iowa State game this afternoon and doing his part for March Madness (and had only a teeny tiny bit of help with his props ;)

Busting Out

After several week of cold, snowy weather on the weekends that left us finding things to do at home, a few nice days and ok days meant we were outta here!

We started by hitting Big Lake Park Thursday on our way home. We had been given more bread than we could get through and I wasn't quick enough to get it in the freezer. I didn't want it to totally go to waste so we decided to share with the ducks. It took about 2 minutes for us to be surrounded by 40 Canadian geese and that many seagulls. I had to keep reminding Payton to not hold handfuls of bread over her head so she didn't get dive-bombed by the birds. And this is one of my new favorite pictures. :)

An elementary school we drive past on the way home was remodled last year and that included the playground, which is amazing. We hit it up on the way home for some fun and sunshine.

Saturday we went out to a photo shoot on a farm for a mini Easter shoot. The twins sat on hay bails, hung out with big rabbits, held chics for the first time, talked to lambs and ducks and horses. The finished products are coming but here is a not-so-great preview from my cell phone. I don't think they're too sure about those chicks.

After the farm and some errands, we went out for Mexican food with MaMaw. I'm convinced Payton can't be my child because she won't eat Mexican food at all.

 

  Sunday afternoon we had a date to watch The Muppets at Honor's house. Luckily she had some extra green for them to wear for St. Patty's Day.

 

 

Today after school they were just extra silly. Mostly started by Parker. Goofballs.

Final Easter shoot pics coming...stay tuned!

Come on Spring!

Seriously...I'm counting every minute that ticks by until we can get outside! ONE WEEK! And I will settle for it being Friday when it's supposed to be 60 degrees! So we've been trying to stay busy and keep occupied around here lately. (Warning...this post will be a little Payton heavy since Parker has been not so fond of having his picture taken lately and I can't get much more than a blur.)

One snow day we made cupcakes just as our street was finally getting cleared out. Yes, I let them take a little out of the bowl after we scooped the rest out for the actual cupcakes.

 Payton has been practicing the fine art of dress-up.

 Doesn't every fairy ride their red motorcycle around?

 We got crafty and made an Easter wreath for our front door.

 They helped me make a treat for when we had company coming over...apple nachos (aka...apple slices drizzled with caramel and chocolate. YUM!)

 Practiced her posing.

 Parker was super excited to get to leave the house for the morning with Aunt Bo and Uncle Dave for a morning of fun. They got to go sledding for the first time, stop and have hot chocolate with Dave's parents and hang out for a little while before going out for lunch.

 Payton has not been into letting anyone do anything to her hair for month. But she let us try braiding her hair after a bath. So much hair for such a little thing.

 Posing...but we have to work on the wrinkled up nose thing she does all the time.

 We got a visit from Emelia and Victoria. Payton loves her and wanted to hold her. Emelia is only 4 months old, so in the next 6 months, she'll probably be as big as Payton. I don't know why she had to wear the bee costume. But it does add something :)

 Working on her dress-up some more. Channeling her inner Olivia Newton John or Madonna circa 1984. Either way, she is a crack up!

We have some plans this weekend...stay tuned!

Sometimes all you need...

Sometimes all you need is a little pick-me-up. It can come from almost anyone, in fact that usually helps. If it comes out of nowhere, when you aren't expecting it, it somehow that makes it sweeter.

I got this email from one of the therapists that was working with Parker before we aged out of Early Intervention...

Hi Amy:

Just wanted to check in and see how your life is, and how Parker is doing with the changes he's faced.

So, please fill me in.  I don't want you to be abandoned in this process, I know you're going above and beyond to make everything okay for him.

A pick-me-up. From out of nowhere. And it was very sweet. :)



Coming up...new pictures and more adventures...soon!